Last usage of runway 23 at LHR
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Isle of Man
Coming in rather late on this thread, but rember being at LL as a lowly ATCA when a Concorde landed on 23. Didn't touch down anywhere near the normal point and eveyone was convinced he was going off at the end. The pilot held the nose up and used aerodynamic braking and ended up stopping in plenty of time, but pretty convinced CONC ops on 23 were banned after that.
I alway found 23 the be a bit nervewracking driving on the airfield, we were supposed to have a briefing on runways in use etc before venturing out but generally just winged it - approaching to cross 23 in Pixie there was always doubt in your mind as the whether it was a taxiway or runway that day! Definate loss of face to ask on the radio, so just hoped that the wig-wags at you intersection hadn't failed, had a good look down the approach and drove over!
Off back to work in Fraggle Radar!
I alway found 23 the be a bit nervewracking driving on the airfield, we were supposed to have a briefing on runways in use etc before venturing out but generally just winged it - approaching to cross 23 in Pixie there was always doubt in your mind as the whether it was a taxiway or runway that day! Definate loss of face to ask on the radio, so just hoped that the wig-wags at you intersection hadn't failed, had a good look down the approach and drove over!
Off back to work in Fraggle Radar!
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: England
I had the dubious honour of abandoning a 05 departure!
BMA FK27 was very slow to roll off 05 (his request due the wind) against an inbound on final for10L.
I didn't fancy what would happen over Block 27 if the inbound went round so told the BMA to stop. It was so windy it wasn't a problem to depart from where he'd stopped.
Oh and 10R was in use for Deps as well.
3 Runways and a planner to help with your phones/arrange gaps etc.
BMA FK27 was very slow to roll off 05 (his request due the wind) against an inbound on final for10L.
I didn't fancy what would happen over Block 27 if the inbound went round so told the BMA to stop. It was so windy it wasn't a problem to depart from where he'd stopped.
Oh and 10R was in use for Deps as well.
3 Runways and a planner to help with your phones/arrange gaps etc.
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 8,266
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From: Berkshire, UK
I recall coming in for a late spinner with B Watch to find they were running two landing streams to cut delays - 05R and 10L packed as tight as you can believe with 10R for deps. Didn't need ExLax in those days!
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Stockport
Have really enjoyed reading this as I used to live under 23 approach when I was kid
right where the point Northolt approach crossed.
Went camping down by Thames under 05 approach one day, that was fun as we nearly got blown away in the gale.
Ian B
right where the point Northolt approach crossed.
Went camping down by Thames under 05 approach one day, that was fun as we nearly got blown away in the gale.
Ian B
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Asgard
I'm sure I remember a KLM DC8 landing on 23 on a very blustery day in the early 70s....went a long way down the runway before it fell out of what was left of the sky. It flew back to EHAM the next day with the gear down all the way.
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: on the golf course (Covid permitting)
The last approach I flew to LHR 23 (SRA) was 1st Feb 2002 in A319 G-EUOD as BA363 from LYS in VERY strong SW winds ar about 2200Z.
Another approach I recall was in B737-400 G-DOCD where we held at BNN for about 40 minutes in mod turbulence on BA4773 ex EDI on sector 4 of a double LHR-EDI day. We were vectored from BNN towards BIG then up to LAM then west and SRA to 23. The cloudbase was about 700ft (around the SRA limit iirc) and we came visual arounf that point but the encountered windshear of about 30kts resulting in a 2 white/2 red PAPI becoming 4 red and a w/s go-around! We had a rather hectic few minutes and ended up in STN with not much fuel left in 60kt SW winds - couldn't even use the airstairs! Many sick bags filled!
Remember landing 05 as a pax sometime on the early 1980's.
Another approach I recall was in B737-400 G-DOCD where we held at BNN for about 40 minutes in mod turbulence on BA4773 ex EDI on sector 4 of a double LHR-EDI day. We were vectored from BNN towards BIG then up to LAM then west and SRA to 23. The cloudbase was about 700ft (around the SRA limit iirc) and we came visual arounf that point but the encountered windshear of about 30kts resulting in a 2 white/2 red PAPI becoming 4 red and a w/s go-around! We had a rather hectic few minutes and ended up in STN with not much fuel left in 60kt SW winds - couldn't even use the airstairs! Many sick bags filled!
Remember landing 05 as a pax sometime on the early 1980's.
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Cornwall UK
23/05
A few shots of 05 being used for landing winter 70/71? from Air India earth mound
and one by Kjell Nilsson from QB or T2 carpark?Photos: Boeing 747-136 Aircraft Pictures | !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Piket/Bish book records rwy05 permanently withdrawn latter part 1993 (p95) and last use rwy23 27Oct 2002 by SAA 747
Where was the green beacon situated...I used to see one light up the sky over Heston about 1953?
and one by Kjell Nilsson from QB or T2 carpark?Photos: Boeing 747-136 Aircraft Pictures | !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Piket/Bish book records rwy05 permanently withdrawn latter part 1993 (p95) and last use rwy23 27Oct 2002 by SAA 747
Where was the green beacon situated...I used to see one light up the sky over Heston about 1953?
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Cornwall UK
View from Air India Maintenance Earth Mound ca.1971
Emperor Sharjehan delivery flight
United Arab Il-62 above intersection of 23/05 climbing off 10R
and ONTOS taxying by the 05 threshold
The airport police always arrived though
United Arab Il-62 above intersection of 23/05 climbing off 10R
and ONTOS taxying by the 05 threshold
The airport police always arrived though
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 507
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From: Cornwall UK
Other diagonal runways at Heathrow
The B-29 featured in Heathrow Skyport 14Jul2011 has been identified as a USAF example approaching RWY15R over the eastern end of the Colnbrook By-Pass (about 1949 )...scroll down a bit on:
Heathrow Skyport - The independent voice of the airport since 1976: July 2011 Archives
)...scroll down a bit on:Heathrow Skyport - The independent voice of the airport since 1976: July 2011 Archives
Last edited by A30yoyo; 20th September 2011 at 12:38.
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: England
I seem to remember (it's all becoming foggy now) a Pan Am freighter landing on 23 at night when it had a little 
problem with an engine. From the Tower it was obvious that there was at least a fire, so bearing in mind the crew would be a little busy, nothing was said on the R/T but the Fire Service dispatched.
Eventually the fire was put out, there was serious damage and Boeing flew over to decide if it could be repaired or written off (they did repair it).
The crew eventually told us their side of the incident. On touchdown and selecting reverse, there was a small jolt on one throttle and all the parameters ran down on one so they thought it had run down. It was only when the engineer (yep had them then) noticed it was a bit orange outside that they realised it was on fire. The engine had dropped from it's front mounting severing all the cables, caught fire and also set fire to the wing!
And where did this all happen? Block 85 so took 2 Runways out.
problem with an engine. From the Tower it was obvious that there was at least a fire, so bearing in mind the crew would be a little busy, nothing was said on the R/T but the Fire Service dispatched.Eventually the fire was put out, there was serious damage and Boeing flew over to decide if it could be repaired or written off (they did repair it).
The crew eventually told us their side of the incident. On touchdown and selecting reverse, there was a small jolt on one throttle and all the parameters ran down on one so they thought it had run down. It was only when the engineer (yep had them then) noticed it was a bit orange outside that they realised it was on fire. The engine had dropped from it's front mounting severing all the cables, caught fire and also set fire to the wing!
And where did this all happen? Block 85 so took 2 Runways out.
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Suffolk, England
Bit late in the day to reply to Over+Out's post in 2009 about the 'recent Swanwick manager' who validated on 23 at Heathrow, absolutely true, he was on my watch and I can remember talking to him when he was having a break during it. Everyone was absolutely stunned, but he did it. Bren/HD were you not in that day he was on our watch?
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 8,266
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From: Berkshire, UK
Possibly, if I was spinning. The only watch list I have is July, 1981 and none of the names ring a bell about Swanwick Managers.... It wasn't unknown for trainees doing boards to be faced with something they hadn't seen before but a bit of initiative came in useful!
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Brisbane
I have just retired, thanks EGLL for being the best ATC in the world. No I never landed on 23/05 but always remember that awful pad numbering system. Thanks for the great memories. You will always be the best. SQ308/319